When we confirmed the story Wednesday that the Bengals would be the subject of HBO's 'Hard Knocks' series this season, jaws dropped throughout the Tri-state.
The Bengals? Our Bengals! With Marvin Lewis and front office types like Mike Brown, wearing microphones and their intimate conversations from the pre-season, airing in 5 warts and all episodes on the no-holds barred network?
Yes, those Bengals. Marvin Lewis participated in the inaugural season of 'Knocks' in 2001, while defensive coordinator with Baltimore, so he has faith that everyone involved, from President Ross Greenburg, to collaborator Steve Sabol of NFL films, will provide an unvarnished look at training camp, but won't dwell on any thing overly salacious that might cast the franchise in a bad light.
The toughest sell though, had to be team President Mike Brown. The source that confirmed our report yesterday, quipped to me that he might not get HBO at home, or be familiar with what the show depicts or what his involvement might be. It seems to me that he trusts Steve Sabol, scion of the NFL Films dynasty, that has, starting with his late father Ed, chronicled the leagues exploits in slo-mo for over 50 years.
I've had discussions, frank discussions about people and places and situations with Mike over the years. He pulls no punches when he knows its not for attribution or broadcast. When the microphones or notebooks show, he becomes far more circumspect.
There is no place to hide though when HBO comes calling. It should make for very interesting if not downright illuminating viewing come the fall.
